Are Your Teeth Moving Around As You Sleep?

Posted on 7/23/2017 by Office

Do you wake up in the morning, and your bite has changed since you went to bed the night before? Your teeth don't fit together the way they did last night, but you didn't do anything to make that happen. Biting down can range from being awkward to being painful. If you have noticed this phenomenon, you need to go in and speak with your dentist. They can help determine what the cause is, and help you figure out how to treat it.

Common Causes of Shifting Teeth

There are two main causes of teeth that shift around. The first is gum disease. As the disease progresses, it causes your teeth to become loose. They are not held as tight in their sockets, which can cause them to wiggle and shift around as you sleep, as well as during the day. The second common cause is bruxism. This is when you grind and/or clench your teeth. The more pressure you put on your teeth, the more they will shift around and the more displaced they can be when you wake up in the morning.

The only way to treat this type of issue is to go in and see your dentist. They will help you figure out the root cause of your shifting teeth. Once the cause is known, a treatment plan can be created. If you are faced with gum disease, your next step is likely to be scaling and root planing. However, if you are looking at bruxism, then you may need a mouth guard to help stop the problem.

No matter what is causing your teeth to shift around, it isn't good. Make sure you go in so it can get treated as early as possible. The sooner you get the treatment started, the more likely you are to save your teeth! If you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more, please call us today at (503) 967-0877.